In the aftermath of the May attack on the Free Gaza flotilla, the Israeli Government declared it would ease the blockade imposed on Gaza. Alvaro Masegosa reports
In recent weeks, there have been declarations about an ease of the blockade imposed on the lives of the 1.5 million people living in Gaza. On Wednesday, June 16, the Israeli government promised to make ''adjustments'' and to ''liberalise'' its stringent restrictions of the passage of food, household supplies, construction material and other goods over Israeli borders and into Gaza. The Palestinian Authority declared that 135 types of goods are allowed by Israel into the Gaza Strip, compared to 9,000 types of goods which used to be allowed prior to mid-June 2007.
Israel has promised to allow a list of new non-essential goods into Gaza such as soft drinks, juices, canned fruits, salads, biscuits, chips and mayonnaise. Nevertheless, Gaza still lacks essential raw building materials such as cement and glass that are necessary in order to rebuild the homes that were demolished by the Israeli army during the 22-day war in January 2009.
Mixed reactions
The proposed easing of the Israeli blockade of Gaza has led to mixed reactions. The Israeli government hailed this decision. Israeli human rights group B'Tselem stated that the security cabinet's decision on Gaza represents the first step in the right direction. Also, United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon welcomed the easing.
On the other hand, the proposal to ease the siege of Gaza has also been viewed in a less optimistic manner. Issam Younis, director of Al Mezan (An NGO working on human rights based in Jabalia Palestinian refugee camp in Gaza), states: ''The measures announced by Israel will not even come close to addressing the process of de-development that is crippling the Gazan economy and society.'' The banning of the vast majority of exports has severely affected the economy in Gaza, pushing its population into poverty and dependency on aid agencies.
Change
Additionally, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reacted to Israel's announcement by claiming that: ''For life for the Palestinians in Gaza to change, we have to end the blockade.''
Ameen Sabbagh, Caritas coordinator in Gaza, believes that this new ''list of goods'' is insignificant and that the Gazan people have more important things to be concerned about. ''The Palestinian people in Gaza do not need mayonnaise and other unnecessary goods. We need to foster the workforce and decrease unemployment in Gaza rather than relying on humanitarian relief programmes.''
The Caritas medical team in Gaza presses for Palestinian patients to have the right to enter Israel to receive the crucial treatments that are not offered in Gaza. Gaza is in desperate need of fuel to power electricity companies that hardly have the minimal requirements needed to operate hospitals and health centres.
Hopefully these recent statements on the relaxation of Gaza imports are the first of many to come and the 1.5 million Palestinians will be given hope for a brighter future.
While Caritas welcomes these positive steps to let more goods reach the Gazan population, we continue to call for a total lift of this inhumane and illegal blockade.
''Caritas Jerusalem is calling all its partners to pressure Israel to respect international law, including the Geneva Convention protecting unarmed civilians and humanitarian workers. The siege on Gaza is an illegal and inhumane act of collective punishment only helping the extremists. It must end now,'' said Claudette Habesch, Caritas Jerusalem Secretary General.
